Pressure reservoir cap



p 1958 J. 1... GORDON 2,854,274

PRESSURE RESERVOIR CAP Filed Aug. 30, 1955 INVENTOR. F G- JULE L.GORDON ATTORNEY PRESSURE RESERVOIR CAP Jule L. Gordon, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to North American Aviation, Inc.

Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,319

Claims. (Cl. 292-252) This invention relates to filler pipe and closure devices for tanks and more particularly to an improved closure device of the self retaining type which can be advantageously applied to pressure tanks and containers to which frequent access is necessary.

Devices now used to provide a closure on the filler neck of a pressurized tank are often of a bayonet type or a spring loaded type. In the bayonet type the closure is provided with one or more radial projections or lugs and the orifice neck is provided with corresponding bayonet grooves. To apply this bayonet closure to the orifice it is necessary to bring the lugs into registry with the corresponding orifice grooves, depress the closure, and then twist it to complete the operation of closing the orifice. This closing operation is not only awkward but is subject to a complete failure to effect a closure if all steps are nOt precisely carried out. Spring loaded types of closures, for example such as the type having a spring biased detent or latching device, are subject to failure of the highly stressed spring elements and do not provide a stable and positive locking device under vibration and severe service.

The present invention is directed to improvements in such tank filler pipes and closures whereby closure may be effected by several continuous motions of one hand and a simple, positive, fool-proof sealed closure is obtained without the use of bayonet slots or springs.

The present invention broadly contemplates a closure device comprising a hollow body member having a cylindrical wall in which there is formed a plurality of apertures, detents radially movable relative to said cylindrical wall and protruding through said apertures, and lever operated nesting concentric rings slidably mounted on said cylindrical wall and having opposed surfaces to press against said detents to urge the same radially inwardly as the opposed surfaces on the rings are moved together by the hand operated lever. This closure device is applicable to a corresponding filler neck or nozzle of a suitable size adapted to receive the closure device, having a peri heral seating surface near the top edge thereof to form a seal with a suitable sealing gasket mounted within the cylindrical wall of said closure device, and having a peripheral groove having tapered walls adapted to permit the inward movement of the detents to position said closure device in locking relationship on the filler neck.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel improved combined filler pipe and closure device of the self-retaining type which may be easily locked in a closed position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lever operated closure device of simplified construction that requires no spring biasing or bayonet type devices to effect positive closing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a closure device that is readily accessible and capable of being quickly installed, and when installed capable of being locked or unlocked by a few continuous motions of the operators hand.

nited States Pate Patented Sept. 30, 1958 A still further object is to provide a closure assembly having a positive locking action that is fool-proof in operation and which will remain locked and sealed under vibration and severe service conditions.

Still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a quickly attachable closure having a sealing gasket to prevent pressure loss from a pressurized tank, which sealing gasket is automatically placed and maintained under pressure in the installed position of the closure cap.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the present specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the filler pipe and closure assembly in a closed position with the closure cap in cross-section and the filler pipe being partly in cross-section and partly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view of the filler pipe and closure assembly in an open position with the closure cap being partly in cross-section and partly in elevation and the filler pipe being in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a smaller scale plan View of the filler pipe and closure cap assembly, partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a smaller scale elevational view of the filler pipe and closure cap assembly in a locked position and attached to a reservoir tank.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, and referring at first to Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 designates generally the assembled tank filler closure device which comprises a female member or closure cap 5 and a male member or filler pipe 6 which communicates with a reservoir or container 35 requiring periodic access. The upper end of the cylindrical filler pipe is of a reduced diameter and has a tapered surface connecting the two sections of different diameter and forming an annular seat 20 for sealing engagement by a ring gasket in the closure cap, to be described in detail hereinbelow. On the main body portion of the neck 6, at a point below seating surface 29, a peripheral annular groove 7 is formed to receive detents or balls 8 under coupling condition. The radial portions 15 of these grooves converge inwardly to provide surfaces for contacting the balls 8 in locking condition and to facilitate the ingress and egress of the balls into and from the groove. An outwardly extending flange 36 is integral with the filler neck or nozzle 6 at the lower end thereof for connection to the tank or reservoir.

The closure cap assembly is indicated generally by reference numeral 21 and includes an inverted cup shaped closure cap 5. Cap 5 has a cylindrical wall 30 comprising a lower portion 22 of intermediate thickness, a middle or intermediate wall portion 25 of least thickness, and an upper wall portion of greatest thickness providing a groove 24 at the intermediate portion and a shoulder 23. A resilient toroidal shaped gasket 16 is positioned in groove 24 to seat on the annular seating surface 20 of filler neck 6 when the cap 5 is locked in position on the neck, whereby said gasket is compressed between wall portion 25, shoulder 23 and seating surface 20 to provide a pressure tight closure. A plurality of angularly spaced circular apertures 28 are formed in the cylindrical wall 22 at a point substantially opposite groove '7 on filler neck 6 when the closure cap is seated on the filler neck. Each aperture 28 has a radially extending annular projection 29 therein at the inner surface of Wall portion 22. Associated with each of the apertures 28 is a spherical or ball detent 8, which normally protrudes through the aperture 28. The inward movement of the ball detents is limited by projections 29 in apertures 28 when closure cap 5 is lifted clear of neck 6, whereby balls 8 are 3 prevented from rolling out of the apertures. A stop plate 34 is rigidly attached to the closure cap' top 27 for a purposeto be described below.

Concentrically mounted on the cylindrical wall 30 is camming ring 3 freely slidable along wall 30. Concen trically positioned about ring 3 is housing ring 2 freely slidable on ring 3 and having an inwardly projecting flange 33 freely slidable on cylindrical wall 30. The lower end of camming ring 3, including rounded nose portion 9, together with the upper surface of flange 33, including rounded nose portion 19, form coacting movable. opposed surfaces for urging ball detents 8 radially inwardly into locking engagement with groove 7 of filler neck 6 or alternatelyfor forming a chamber 18 to allow ball detent 8 to move radially outwardly for disengagement from groove 7, when the opposed coacting surfaces are moved toward or away from each other respectively. The lower outer edge of ring 3 is beveled at 31 to provide clearance over the fillet 32 on housing ring 2.

Housing ring 2 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite lugs or tongues 10 which extend longitudinally upwardly from the upper edge of ring 2. Camming ring 3 also has a pair of diametrically opposite lugs or tongues extending trunnion pin 11 is journaled for rotation in one of the lugs 10 while each of the pins 12 is positioned for sliding movement within a horizontal slot 13 in a lug 14. As handle 4 is pivoted about trunnion pins 11,

pins 12 are moved in an are about the axis of pins 11 thereby causing the camming ring 3 to be raised or lowered depending on the direction of handle movement i j.

and the consequent arcuate movement of pins 12. Due to the toggle action of pins 11 and pins 12 on the handle,

as camming ring 3 is moved in one direction, housing ring 2 is moved in the opposite direction.

Thus, in operation, handle 4 is raised to position 4, see Fig. 2, as ring 3 is moved upwardly to position 3' and ring 2 is simultaneously moved. downwardly to position 2', forming a chamber 18 into which the balls 8 may bev moved laterally outwardly a sufiicient distance so that r they do not project past the inner surface of the cylindrical wall lower portion 22. With balls in this position as indicated at 8', closure cap 5 may be lifted clear of the filler neck 6. Conversely as handle 4 is lowered to a position substantially flush with the closure cap top 27, as shown in Fig. 1, ring 3 is moved downwardly and ring 2 is simultaneously moved upwardly, with the coacting opposed surfaces thereon and in particular rounded nose portions 9 and 19 forcing ball detents 8 inwardly into locking engagement with groove 7. As ball detents 8 are forced inwardly, they exert a reactive force on the upper tapered wall 15 of groove 7. The longitudinal component of this force draws the closure cap 5 downwardly and compresses the resilient ring gasket 16-on seating surface 20, as previously described. 7

The assembly comprising the coacting rings 2 and'3 and handle 4 is positioned and supported concentrically about cylindrical wall by the abutment of nose portion 9 on balls 8. A stop plate 34 having a lip 17 projecting outwardly from cylindrical wall 30 is rigidly positioned on top of closure cap top 2'7. Lip 17 forms a stop to limit upward travel of housing ring 2 and carnming ring 3 to avoid ball detents 8 being inadvertently moved back into engagement with groove 7 by contact with nose portion 19 on flange 33 of housing ring 2.

From -Fig. 1 it will be seen that-in closed position handle 4 occupies a position substantially flush with the top of closure cap 5. it will be noted that in this position pins 12 are past the bottom dead center position of their 4' I circles of rotation about trunnion pins 11. This provides a positive fool-proof means for holding the closure'cap assembly 21 in locked relationship with filler neck 6..

To attach closure cap 5 to the filler neck 6 handle 4 should be substantially in a vertical or axial direction 4" as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the rings 2-and 3' are separated to form chamber 18 and provide a space to accommodate ball detents 8. The closure cap is positioned on the filler neck by firmly pressing it down onto the filler neck 6.so that the lower tapered wall 15 of groove 7 will act on balls 8 to force them radially outwardly into chamber 18. When the cap 5 is fully seated and apertures 28- are substantially opposite groove 7, handle 4 is moved to a position substantially flush with closure cap top 27 and balls 8 are forced by coacting rings 2 and 3 into engagement with groove 7,as previously described. I

To remove closure cap 5, handle 4 is raised from the locked down position to the raised position 4 and is then lifted upwardly, bringing balls 8 into contact with the upper tapered wall 15 'of groove 7. Furtherupward movement of the closure capcauses ball detents 8 to be forced into chamber 18, formed by the relative displacement of rings 2 and 3 when handle 4 was moved ,to position 4', and the closure cap 5 may then be lifted clear of the filler neck 6. w

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing description that this invention provides a novel and simplifiedpressure reservoir closure device that is quickly and positively attachable or detachablefrom the reservoir filling pipe, and which requires little more than a single motion of 1 one hand to effect the closing. or opening thereof.

While a particular embodiment of this invention. has been illustrated and described. herein, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction and the arrangement of thevarious parts without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention in its broader aspects or as defined in the following claims.

I claim;

1. A tank filler and closure device comprising a male member having a peripheral groove thereon and being attachable to a tank, a female member forming a closure for said male'member, a plurality of detents carried by said female member, means for actuating. said detents comprising a plurality of coacting movable opposed surfaces, means interconnecting said opposed surfaces'for effecting alternate movement of each of the opposed surfaces simultaneously away from each other and simul taneously toward each other, each of said surfaces operatively contacting said detents whereby said detents are moved into locking engagement with said groove upon movement of said surfaces toward each other and whereby said detents are movable out of engagement with said groove upon movement of said surfaces away from each other. 7

2. A tank filler and closure device comprising a male member having a peripheral groove thereon-and being attachable to a tank,'a female member forming a closure for said male member, a detent carried bysaid female member, a detent actuating means comprising a plurality of slidable' rings concentrically mounted about said female .member, said rings being alternately movable simultaneously away from and toward each other in a longitudinal direction on said female member, said idetent being movable inwardly to engage saidgroove upon 3. A tank filler and closure device comprising a male member having a peripheral groove thereon and attachable to a tank, a female member forming a closure for said male member, a detent carried by said female member, a detent actuating means comprising relatively slidable concentric rings slidably mounted on said female member for longitudinal movement thereon relative to said female member and relative to each other, said detent being movable inwardly to engage said groove upon longitudinal relative movements of said rings in opposite directions whereby said male and female members are coupled together, said detent being movable outwardly to disengagement from said groove upon reverse longitudinal relative movements of said rings whereby said female member closure is disconnected from said male member and may be removed, and means operatively connected to each of said rings for alternately moving said rings simultaneously away from each other and simultaneously toward each other and for moving said rings relative to said female member.

4. A device as described in claim 3 wherein the means for simultaneously moving said rings comprises a lever journaled in one of said rings and connected to said other ring.

5. A closure comprising a cap having a cylindrical wall, said wall having a plurality of angularly spaced detent retaining apertures formed therein, a plurality of detents movably disposed within said apertures, means for actuating said detents longitudinally movable on the outer surface of said cylindrical wall, said means having relatively movable opposed surfaces interconnected for alternate movement of the surfaces simultaneously away from each other and simultaneously toward each other, said opposed surfaces operatively contacting the outer surfaces of said detents to urge said detents radially inwardly relative to said cylindrical wall upon relative movement of said surfaces toward each other and whereby said detent is movable radially outwardly into an unlocked position upon movement of said surfaces away from each other.

6. A closure device comprising a cap having a cylindrical wall, said wall having a plurality of angularly spaced detent retaining apertures formed therein, a plurality of detents movably disposed within said apertures, a detent actuating means comprising two relatively slidable concentric rings slidably mounted on said cylindrical wall for longitudinal movement thereon relative to said cylindrical wall and relative to each other, said rings having opposed surfaces operatively contacting the outer surfaces of said detents to urge said detents radially inwardly relative to said cylindrical wall upon relative movement of said surfaces toward each other, and means operatively connected to each of said rings for simultaneously moving said opposed surfaces toward each other whereby said detent is urged inwardly and locked in its substantially innermost position and for alternately moving said opposed ring surfaces simultaneously away from each other whereby said detent can be moved to a position outwardly of the inner surface of said cylindrical Wall.

7. A device as described in claim 6 wherein the means for simultaneously moving said rings comprises a lever journaled in one of said rings and connected to said other ring.

8. A tank filler pipe and closure assembly comprising a filler pipe having a flanged end attachable to a tank, said filler pipe having a peripheral annular groove, a closure cap having a cylindrical wall adapted to fit over the filler pipe, said closure cap having a plurality of angularly spaced ball retaining apertures formed in said wall, ball members disposed in said apertures to engage the groove on said pipe to operatively connect said closure and said pipe in disengageable locking engagement, a first cylindrical ring slidably concentrically positioned on said cylindrical wall and having diametrically opposed horizontal slots therein, a second cylindrical ring slidably concentrically positioned on said first ring and having an inwardly extending flange at the lower end thereof, a lever having arms pivotally carried by said second ring, said lever having a radially inwardly extending pin in each arm, each said pin slidingly contacting the surfaces of said slot whereby said first ring and said second ring may be longitudinally moved relatively to each other as said lever is moved about its pivot, said rings forming a ball member receiving chamber when relatively moved apart and forcing said ball members into locking relationship with said groove on said pipe when relatively moved together whereby said closure is locked to said filler pipe.

9. A tank filler and closure device comprising a male member having a shoulder and attachable to a tank, a female member having apertures therein forming a closure for said male member, detent means movable inwardly and outwardly in said apertures, said detent means being alternately movable inwardly to lock said female member to said male member and movable outwardly to unlock said female member from said male member, means for actuating said detent means comprising substantially nondeformable coacting relatively movable opposed first and second elements, means interconnecting said opposed elements for effecting alternate movement of each of the opposed elements simultaneously away from each other and simultaneously toward each other, said opposed element interconnecting means comprising a lever journalled relative to one of said opposed elements and operatively connected to the other of said opposed elements, each of said opposed elements operatively contacting said detent means upon movement of said opposed elements toward each other to move said detent means inwardly whereby the same may be made operative to lock said female member to said male member.

10. A tank filler and closure device comprising a male member having a peripheral groove thereon and being attachable to a tank, a female member forming a closure for said male member and having at least one aperture therethrough, a detent carried by said female member and movable radially inwardly and outwardly in said aperture, means for actuating said detent comprising a plurality of coacting longitudinally movable opposed surfaces, toggle means interconnecting said opposed surfaces for effecting alternate movement of each of the opposed surfaces simultaneously away from each other and simultaneously toward each other, each of said surfaces operatively contacting said detent whereby said detent is moved radially inwardly in said aperture into engagement with said groove upon movement of said surfaces toward each other and whereby said detent is movable radially outwardly in said aperture out of engagement with said grgove upon movement of said surfaces away from each 0t er.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,754,639 Meyer ..*Apr. 15, 1930 2,531,021 Bard NOV. 21, 1950 2,536,702 Scheiwer Jan. 2, 1951 2,684,779 Bafferty July 27, 1954 2,744,770 Davidson et al. May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 246,640 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1947 276,995 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1951 

